Authors Note: I just can't help myself, I'm so pumped about all of this that I want to give you new chapters as soon as possible, deal with it :P

This one is shorter as well, I didn't want to rip the next one apart, but it will be a bigger one, I promise.

But! Better not get used to the frequent Updates. My new semester starts in October and I also (hopefully) landed a temporary job at a local gift shop where a friend of mine works. Even though it's for helping them with Christmas shoppers, it starts around the same time, so I won't be able to write as frequently.

Still, I am so happy that people enjoy this story and I can't wait until we are at the point where our two lovebirds finally get a lil' closer, hehe ;) I'm so curious about what you guys think about all of the stuff that'll happen to them.

Have fun with this one :3


Chapter 4 - Like

Gajeel, sitting comfortably in his chair at the dinner table, played with a fork in his hand. Neither Lady de Jardin, nor Lucy or Natsu had arrived yet and he was chatting with Lily about the plans they had for the week, during which their guests were staying at the castle.
"Maybe we can all go for a ride into the landscape? I'm sure that Lucys friend would like to see a conifer forest," he suggested and Lily gave him a surprised look.
"First of all, how would you know? And second, who are you and what did you do with the Gajeel who doesn't care what people want?"

"Hey! Have some faith in me, will ya? You're the one always pestering me about manners and shit! N' I know because she told me." Lily, who had started to chuckle at the offense his friend took with his last comment, gave him a surprised look, again.

"Wait, she told you? When did you guys talk?" he asked, leaning forward.
"The entire last year." Gajeel answered in a mocking tone and after he felt he sufficiently annoyed his friend he continued: "Earlier, obviously. She somehow found my usual spot and we walked in the garden. She told me that she likes the seasons and thinks pine trees are exotic" Gajeel shrugged.
"Alright, now, who are you? That's not just manners, you'd never go that far for someone unless..!"

Before Gajeel could answer, or throw the fork at Lily, he noticed a certain pink-haired man enter the dining room, followed by his wife and her friend. Gajeel was already distracted by the arrival of other people, but he couldn't seem to regain any shred of his focus when his eyes fell on Lady de Jardin.

The red dress hugged her in just the right way, accentuating every curve, while the floor-long fabric rustled with every soft step, giving her the appearance of floating, as she made her way over to the table. The blue waves of her hair stood out against her pale, slender shoulders and Gajeel forgot what breathing was for a second. He finally regained his composure, and luckily for him, the servants flitting around them took everyone's attention away from him. The petite woman arrived at the table and curtsied before the king "Your majesty." Gajeel, feeling his heart jump right into his throat nodded curtly "Milady."
The servants retreated while everyone got seated, and started to enjoy their first few bites of their food, the entire table filled with steamed vegetables, grilled meat, fish and various baked goods. "Oh, I've never ate food like that!" Levy exclaimed while trying to load her plate with the smallest bites of every food item she could get. Lucy and Gajeel smiled at her excitement, Natsu was busy with shoveling everything in reach onto his plate, but seemingly made sure to leave enough of each for her to try out.

"So, Milady de Jardin, I apologize that we haven't had the time to greet one another, but I am curious; how do you enjoy Terya so far?" Lily inquired from across the table. "It is very nice, I especially enjoy the different flora and architecture." Levy answered with a smile and dipped some bread into her sauce.
"Ah yes, I was impressed by that the first time, too." Lucy recounted and Natsu nodded his head in agreement. "We need to visit the city sometime this week, maybe the day after tomorrow?" Lucy continued and Levy agreed excitedly and added: "I would love to see how it is in winter, I'm sure the city would look lovely and cozy. I often read snow as being described as a blanket and having an effect of muffling sounds."

Gajeel gave her an incredulous look "Do you mean to say that you never saw snow? Then you have to visit in winter! Snows our specialty after all!" he grinned. "Is that an official invitation?" Levy asked and arched her eyebrow in amusement. "Of course!" Gajeel laughed and Lily added: "We would be happy to welcome you anytime, Milady."

The evening went on well, Levy getting increasingly excited about the food and the prospect of experiencing so many new things, while Gajeel became more and more enamored with the petite womans excitable nature. Lily also enjoyed talking to her, and they discovered many similar interests. Lucy, Natsu and Gajeel exchanged news, stories, and inquired about shared friends.
_

Later in the evening, almost two hours after dinner had ended, Levy stifled a yawn "I think I will have to excuse myself, the day was quite long and I don't want to fall asleep on my plate." Everyone chuckled at her statement and she continued: "It has been a wonderful evening. I look forward to our ride tomorrow." She curtsied before Gajeel "Your majesty." He smiled at her "Have a Good Night!" She turned to the others, wishing everyone a good night's rest as well before she left the dining room.

"I'm impressed Gajeel, not one curse word the whole evening!" Natsu snickered as soon as Levy had left. "Shut yer trap, Salamander." Lucy, Natsu and Lily broke out in laughter at witnessing Gajeels sudden change in personality. "What's so funny?" "We're just glad that you're putting in so much effort," Lucy smiled politely and Gajeel felt his ears growing hot. "You guys are always telling me I have to be polite and correct and all that shit when I'm around new people! Can't I just be nice to her without everyone jumping down my damn throat!?"

"Of course you can, my friend. In fact, I have to say that I am quite proud of your progress."

"Progress? What are you talkin' 'bout, cat?"

"Well, we all know you went through a hard time, Natsu and I witnessed it firsthand and it really hurt me to see you like that. I'm glad to see you relaxed and polite. It fits you, you know."

"Aw, come on, Lil. Ya know I can't handle cheesy shit." Gajeel laughed. "But, seriously, thank you, guys. Natsu, you knocked the sense back into me. And I couldn't have recovered from all of it, without you being there for me, Lily. Lucy, you were the first new person I met an' I know I ain't easy to be around, but you stuck around anyways n' showed me that I can meet new people. I owe all of you big time and that means a lot to me."
After Gajeels short speech, the addressed people seemed to be a bit shell-shocked by this sudden show of heartfelt emotions, before Lucy almost broke out in tears. Lily himself wiped a tear out of the corner of his eye and Natsu proposed a night of drinking to celebrate their friendship.
_

After celebrating thoroughly, all of them went, stumbled or got dragged back to their room, Gajeel slipping in somewhere between stumbling and getting dragged by Lily, who managed to slip the completely plastered king into his chambers without any servants seeing them. He threw his best friend onto the bed, who just yelled "Hey!" before mumbling something into his pillow.
"Wha'? Oh, Gajeel you're so drunk." Lily shook his head
"I said yuwre right, I like 'er, damn cat! And…okay I'm drunk." Lily did a double-take at Gajeels first words "What? You never tell me when you like people! You never liked anyone! Who? Lady Levy?"
"Nah Lucy! Ocourse Lady Levy, are ya dense today? Who else? She so damn' cute n' nice n' I dunwanna scare her away cus' I like how she likes ...stuff." Lily felt a grin spread across his face, feeling happy for his friend who finally found someone he seemed to want to make an effort for.
"I'll let you get sleep, see you tomorrow, Gajeel." His king was already snoring softly. It was doubtful he'd remembered that tomorrow, but Lily would just have to remind him. He smirked at that thought and closed the door behind him to stumble to his own well deserved night of sleep.


/

Will Lily even have to remind him? I think our beloved Bookworm will remind Gajeel herself ;)

Even though I sent my Professor my paper yesterday, I still have to get a printed version to him tomorrow. Deadline was today, on a Sunday, in the middle of semester break, so, of freaking course his secretary isn't working. I'm curious about his assessment, I have no idea if the paper was good or not. It was essentially my first and he's notorious for being picky and kind of a dick, lol.

Nevermind that, I want to thank my wonderful reviewers, you were so kind and your assessments made me really happy :)

trienniagala: Wanted to thank you again, your reviews were both very lovely and cute :3 made me very happ, thanks. I promise, there'll be cool, fluffy stuff happerning in the near future, cough, next chapter, cough.

Mskumiko24: I'm glad to hear it :)

Livalibus: Makes me happy to hear! Thanks for your insight, I never looked at it like that, but now that you mentioned it, I think it's my style, so it will keep being this way, yay! I hope you will also like the more...passionate parts ;D

Shaidow365: Thanks, that's really reassuring! It was also nice to see you back, I'm glad you're enjoying it :3 (Also, start with this Essay! ;P)

Have a wonderful day, you incredibly kind people!